nd more than Naomi could tell. We were to begin by
applying to the police to help us to find John Jago, and we were then
to be guided by circumstances. Was there ever a more hopeless programme
than this?

"Circumstances" declared themselves against us at starting. I applied,
as usual, for the order of admission to the prison, and the order was
for the first time refused; no reason being assigned by the persons in
authority for taking this course. Inquire as I might, the only answer
given was, "not to-day."

At Naomi's suggestion, we went to the prison to seek the explanation
which was refused to us at the office. The jailer on duty at the outer
gate was one of Naomi's many admirers. He solved the mystery cautiously
in a whisper. The sheriff and the governor of the prison were then
speaking privately with Ambrose Meadowcroft in his cell; they had
expressly directed that no persons should be admitted to see the
prisoner that day but themselves.

What did it mean? We returned, wondering, to the farm. There Naomi,
speaking by chance to one of the female servants, made certain
discoveries.

Early that morning the sheriff had been brought to Morwick by an old
friend of the Meadowcrofts. A long interview had been held between Mr.
Meadowcroft and his daughter and the official personage introduced by
the friend. Leaving the farm, the sheriff had gone straight to the
prison, and had proceeded with the governor to visit Ambrose in his
cell. Was some potent influence being brought privately to bear on
Ambrose? Appearances certainly suggested that inquiry. Supposing the
influence to have been really exerted, the next question followed, What
was the object in view? We could only wait and see.

Our patience was not severely tried. The event of the next day
enlightened us in a very unexpected manner. Before noon, the neighbors
brought startling news from the prison to the farm.

Ambrose Meadowcroft had confessed himself to be the murderer of John
Jago! He had signed the confession in the presence of the sheriff and
the governor on that very day.

I saw the document. It is needless to reproduce it here. In substance,
Ambrose confessed what Silas had confessed; claiming, however, to have
only struck Jago under intolerable provocation, so as to reduce the
nature of his offense against the law from murder to manslaughter. Was
the confession really the true statement of what had taken place? or
had the sheriff and the governor, act